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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | I'm about to go look at a late 90s 4 Star GN that's been sitting for the last four years. I've seen other late 90s 4stars for nearly twice the asking price, so I think it may be a good deal, but I don't want to buy a huge problem either. I'm thinking it will need new tires, maybe brakes and brake lines, possibly wiring/ lights. What, if anything, would make you walk away from such a trailer despite a great price? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
 
Location: Kansas | Bad floor if it's all aluminum would make me walk away. No one in this area to fix it even if it was feasible. |
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Expert
Posts: 2960
 
Location: North Carolina | Agreed... A bad floor is $$$ to replace or fix. Almost everything else can be fixed for a few $. Before you say yes to the sale. Pull the mats out of the trailer. Not just lift the mats in a few spots. Bring a flashlight & couple of "C" clamps to help grip the mat. It's a pain to do but a bigger pain after the sale. |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | Thanks! Will a bad floor be obvious once the mats are pulled up? Am I looking for holes, discoloration, pitting, or what? |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| If the floor is good,it could be sitting up a lot longer than this,and,with nothing major wrong (like the flooring) this trailer would be worth it IMO.We came by a wonderful buy on a 2000 4Star and were offered $2K above what we paid for it, unseen,just this past spring. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1885
Location: NY | can you take the trailer for a test drive that would help see if it is good beside looking at the floor |
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Member
Posts: 31
| I bought a 2000 4 Star and it had 4 small places of that corrosion. On this web site is a fix to stop the problem. Followed directions and it seems to have worked. Not that big of a deal as long as there is not a bunch of corrosion and it is eaten all the way through. Good luck. |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| Are you talking about Gard's trailer floor coating/application method? |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | I will ask if I can take it for a test ride -- good idea. Can anyone point me to photos of corrosion on an aluminum floor? Thanks. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by hansiska on 2012-09-27 10:35 AM I will ask if I can take it for a test ride -- good idea. Can anyone point me to photos of corrosion on an aluminum floor? Thanks. |
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Member
Posts: 31
| Yes, that was Gard's method of treating the corrosion on an aluminum floor. Seemed to be a reasonable solution. I used the acid and then the bed liner. I am curious to see how long that bed liner will last. I did this about 6 months ago and checked the bed liner last month and it was still stuck. Again, this was NOT a huge area and it was not eaten through. Time will tell. |
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Member
Posts: 31
| Since I treated those spots I have thought of doing the whole floor with bed liner. If it will stay STUCK then it should prevent that corrosion from spreading. ???? That bed liner will stick to a painted pickup bed then it should stay stuck to the aluminum floor. I may try it and see what happens. |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | Thanks for the link to the Double D website. That was helpful, plus there's lots of great info there on everything else related to trailers/ trailering. I'm really looking forward to seeing this trailer now and feel I'll be able to make a decision when I see it based on what I've learned here. Should be going to take a look next week. I'll update here with what I find. |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | Part of the decision I have to make is whether to go for the gooseneck at all -- I have a 1 ton pickup but would need to get a gooseneck hitch. Have to figure out if I should go for an older GN or if my money is better spent on a newer BP. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: TN | You won't regret a gooseneck- it is well worth the price of the hitch- and I don't think you can go wrong with a 4 Star. Please let us know what you do! |
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Location: Central Arkansas | Hey, if you decide not to get it, would you please share the contact info for whoever has it? One of us would love to get it , if it is sound and a good price! |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | Originally written by brushycreekranch on 2012-09-28 10:23 AM
Hey, if you decide not to get it, would you please share the contact info for whoever has it? One of us would love to get it , if it is sound and a good price! :-) I will! And if I do get it, I'll share pics. |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | UPDATE I finally got to go see this 4star. Tore up the mats and found one small spot of corrosion that's very superficial. Otherwise, I'd consider it in excellent condition for a trailer its age. It's the setup I want: 3H slant step up stock combo gooseneck with escape door in first stall, separate (large) tack room w/ full wall, no rear tack, single rear door. All plexiglass slats are still installed (I seem to come across some ads where these are misplaced). There is a little "peekaboo" door at the front of the second stall, about 1' x 2', that I'm not sure about. I haul mares and foals and I worry that this could open accidentally (it has a regular door latch, not the super safe kind of latch ("cam locks"?). The plexiglass in the back door does NOT seem to be removeable. The kicker: it turns out this is a '90, not a '96. Admittedly, the number is quite hard to read on the info plate. How big a deal is this for a trailer that seems to have had very little use? We are currently at $6500. Is it still a bargain? |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | Sorry, one more update: it IS in fact a '96! |
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Regular
Posts: 95
Location: Nashville, TN | If you have been looking at trailers for any time, you know finding an all aluminum trailer of any size for $6500 is difficult. Small things that you don't like can be modified or changed. Big things you don't like is another story. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: TN | That is an excellent price on a 4 Star even for that age! Really don't think you can go wrong! |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Frenchtown, NJ | Thanks. I bought it! I'm moving up from an old steel 2H BP. This is my first GN, first aluminum, and first 4 star. Thank you all for your advice, help, and support! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: TN | Congratulations! Enjoy your new trailer! Safe travels! |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| you will love 4Star! |
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Member
Posts: 6
Location: NOWATA ,OKLAHOMA | Your,really going to like pulling a g.n. over a bumper pull. And @ a good price. good for you! |
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Expert
Posts: 2960
Location: North Carolina | Originally written by hansiska on 2012-10-23 8:47 AM
Thanks. I bought it! I'm moving up from an old steel 2H BP. This is my first GN, first aluminum, and first 4 star. Thank you all for your advice, help, and support! Congrats ... Remember ... along withTires, service the brakes & wheel bearings. Just sitting is hard on these items |
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4star That's Been Sitting Four Years
